Aratama no toshi no o nagaku aimiteshi sono kokorobiki wasuraeme ya mo

あらたまの年の緒長く相見てし
その心引き忘らえめやも

Roma-ji: Aratama no toshi no o nagaku aimiteshi sono kokorobiki wasuraeme ya mo
English Translation: Through the long thread
of the new-jewel years
we have met as friends—
that kindness of your heart,
could I ever forget it?
Meaning: Through all these long years we have spent together, how could I ever forget the warmth of your heart?
Commentary: Book Nineteen 4248

Headnote: "Having been transferred to Junior Counselor on the seventeenth day of the seventh month, I composed poems of sorrowful parting and left them at the residence of the Secretary Kume no Ason Hironawa, envoy to the capital with the annual reports—two poems. / My term of six years now complete, I suddenly meet with the fortune of transfer. The grief of parting from old friends knots up within my heart; how can the sleeves with which I wipe my tears ever dry? So I composed two sad poems to leave behind a resolve never to forget. The words are these"
Leaving Etchū on his transfer to Junior Counselor, Yakamochi left this farewell poem for Kume no Hironawa, his long-time subordinate and poetic companion: how could he forget the kindness of one with whom he had shared such long years? It expresses gratitude and sorrow at parting.
The left note says, "The above were sent on the fourth day of the eighth month." After about six years as Governor of Etchū, Yakamochi was appointed Junior Counselor and was to return to the capital; he left these farewell poems at the residence of Kume no Hironawa, who was absent, having gone up to the capital as envoy with the annual reports. The Chinese headnote says that the sleeves with which he wipes his tears will not dry, showing his deep feeling for the people of Etchū with whom he had spent six years.
The poet, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, was the son of the Grand Counselor Ōtomo no Tabito. From 746 he served as Governor of Etchū, living at the provincial headquarters in what is now Fushiki, Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture. He is regarded as the leading poet of the Nara period and is thought to have played a central role in compiling the Man'yōshū.

First line, "aratama no," is a pillow word for "toshi" (year).
Second line, "toshi no o nagaku" (through the long thread of years), refers to the years in Etchū; it is the same phrase as the second line of 4244.
Third line, "aimiteshi" (we have met each other), shows close companionship.
Fourth line, "sono kokorobiki" (that warmth of yours): "kokorobiki" means goodwill or consideration.
Fifth line, "wasuraeme ya mo" (could I forget?), is hypermetric; "e" is potential and "ya mo" rhetorical.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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